Bird Island, also known as MC-2, a small spoil island located in the Indian River Lagoon, is one of the best bird nesting areas in South Florida.

Treasure Coast Newspapers

FILE PHOTO
Brown pelicans congregate on the 1.5 acre Bird Island in the Indian River Lagoon. The island is one of seven spoil islands in Martin County, and one of the best rookeries in the region.

MARTIN COUNTY — For 13 years, Capt. Nancy Beaver has introduced students, tourists and former presidents to Bird Island on her Sunshine Wildlife Tours. She’s even been known to swim to the island to save birds tangled in fishing line.

Neither activity would be allowed, however, if the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission designates Bird Island a Critical Wildlife Area, as Martin County has requested.

The 1.5-acre island, officially named MC-2, is in the Intracoastal Waterway near Sewall’s Point and the bridge to Hutchinson Island from Stuart.

Banning people from within 150 feet of the island illustrates the balancing act the Treasure Coast faces in trying to protect and yet still enjoy the Indian River Lagoon and its denizens. Some say the ban is essential to protect the birds, some of which are protected under state and federal laws because they are threatened, endangered or a species of special concern.

“We need to let the birds alone,” said Beverly Poppke, vice president of Audubon of Martin County. “We need to let them have their space.”

Beaver, who was among those who advocated for stricter policing of the area, is worried a ban might be going too far and thinks authorities won’t monitor the area to catch violators in the act anyway.

“It’s a wonderful area that we should be able to share with people. We’d be taking away a wonderful educational resource,” Beaver said. “If this prohibits me from saving birds, we haven’t done a good thing. It’s really put me in a strange dilemma.”

The ban would affect a host of people — boaters, anglers, kayakers, paddleboarders, birdwatchers and fishermen who frequent the waters around the island in search of bait.

Moose Brown, who owns TC Paddle, said the ban won’t be a hardship for his business because his paddlers don’t head in that direction.

The County Commission last week voted to ask the state for Critical Wildlife Area status, which would allow for signs warning people they’ll be ticketed if they don’t stay away from the island. The existing signs surrounding the island have no legal teeth.

“We need some additional protection,” said environmental advocate and former Audubon of Martin County President Greg Braun.